SMIC appoints former Intel exec to board

China's leading foundry Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. has appointed former Intel high flyer Sean Maloney as a non-exective director of the company with effect from June 15, 2013.

Maloney spent over 30 years at Intel and rose up through the ranks to become general manager of the Intel Architecture Group and be tipped as a likely successor to Paul Ottelini as CEO. Maloney suffered a stroke in February 2010 and was on medical leave until January 2011. On returning to work he was appointed chairman of Intel China where he served up until January 2013.

In addition, Gao Yonggang has been appointed SMIC's executive vice president of strategic planning and has been re-designated as an executive director with effect from June 17, 2013. Gao has held a number of senior accounting and managerial positions at companies within the China Academy of Telecommunications Technology Datang companies. Prior to his appointment by SMIC Gao served as a non-executive director of the company from 2009.

Intel retiree Sean Maloney now active at SMIC.

Maloney, a college dropout who grew up in London, began his Intel career in the company's European headquarters, where he spent nine years in management roles in applications engineering, sales and marketing. From 1992 to 1995, he served as technical assistant to Grove, then Intelís chairman and CEO. In 1995, Maloney moved to Hong Kong to manage Intel's sales and marketing activities in Asia Pacific and returned to the United States in 1998 to become head of Intel's worldwide sales organization. Three years later he took over as head of Intel Communications Group and became co-manager of the Intel Mobility Group in 2004.

Not altogether sure I like the sound of this... when you combine Maloney and Tan, they add up to a ton of influence with, and insight into, how cutting-edge designs go together.
Very smart long-term strategery! (another way of saying the US is allowing the export (or co-opting) of more shortcuts to advanced technology.)

But what's not to like about it?
They can help SMIC do a better job and, under the pressure of GloFo, Samsung and Intel joining the foundry ranks, SMIC needs some help.
And is not more a case of Sean Maloney, having retired from Intel, just looking for something to maintain his interest and fit in between his retirement hobbies.